Patron Saint of the Internet

Published: 11 February 2001 y., Sunday
Instead of fumbling through bulky computer guides and frantically calling distant help desks, the religiously inclined may soon have a higher option when their computer crashes. Pope John Paul II is expected to soon be naming the patron saint of Internet users and computer programmers. Vatican sources have confirmed that St. Isidore of Seville, nominated two years ago, is a leading contender to be the saintly guardian of cyberspace. St. Isidore is attributed with writing the world's first encyclopedia, known as Etymologia. Written more than 1,400 years ago, it was a 20-volume collection of writings on subjects ranging from art, medicine, history and theology to mathematics, literature, agriculture, war and mineralogy. Spanish religious groups, among others, already designated their countryman as a "protector" of the World Wide Web in 1999. Because his life's work ended up in a categorized database, an ancestor of today's Internet, he seems a natural choice for many. A recent online poll in The Economist found he had the most Web page references of all the cyberspace patron saint candidates. The Holy See has yet to make a final decision, leaving the field open to other candidates, most of whom are underdogs, given St. Isidore's popularity with online users. He is up against St. Paul, the Archangel Gabriel, and St. Anthony of Padua, whom many of the prayerful turn to when they have lost something. There is also San Pedro Regalado, a 15th-century global navigator who is believed to have appeared in two places at once. For some, he would be an appropriate guardian for the cybersurfer. Even in the Vatican, the internet has introduced an unprecedented era. If enough Internet users choose Saint Isidore as their patron saint, this virtual word-of-mouth may unofficially canonize him. Mistaken cyber gossip may have already anointed him. Despite the fast-paced and unparalleled force of the Internet, Pope John Paul II is endeavoring to keep up. Back in 1996, the Vatican launched its own Web site, www.vatican.va, which publishes church documents, papal speeches, news updates, and interactive information on the Vatican. The site is named after its own saintly watchdogs, the archangels Raphael, Michael, and Gabriel.
Šaltinis: abcnews.go.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

E-book challenge at Frankfurt fair

Readers could wave goodbye to carrying around heavy books with one of the portable electronic readers on display at the Frankfurt book fair. more »

Orchestral cellphones in Japan

Mobile phone owners in Japan – which means just about everyone – can now dial-a-concert whenever they feel like improving their mood with a tune or two. more »

Apple's $999 laptop

Apple cut the price of its entry level laptop, and unveiled a new line of aluminum clad machines. more »

Japan's human like new robots

The latest robots on display in Japan is proving machines may replace their human counterparts. Some are even helping save lives. more »

Lithuania Web Portal visited by citizens from states accounting for almost half of the world

The recently launched Lithuania Web Portal www.lietuva.lt has already been visited by the Internet users from ninety states. more »

Lithuania Web Portal visited by citizens from states accounting for almost half of the world

The recently launched Lithuania Web Portal www.lietuva.lt has already been visited by the Internet users from ninety states. more »

New Website to Take the Lead in the Online Live Music Webcast Market

Performancecast.tv is releasing their new website for LIVE Online Music Webcasts allowing bands of any stature to broadcast and promote their music world wide. Viewers watching the show can chat with other fans in real time and in some cases chat with the band all in a simple to use format. more »

No more boring Christian videos

GodTuner.com, a recently launched online Christian video-sharing community has been upgraded and is now offering Christians and ministries world-wide the ability to upload and host very high quality videos on their website. more »

Microsoft CEO in Europe

During a five-city tour of EMEA, encompassing Denmark, the UK, Norway, France, and Portugal, Steve Ballmer will meet with customers, partners, business and government leaders. more »

Wincor Nixdorf expands bank, ATM consulting service

Wincor Nixdorf AG has acquired a 51 percent interest in Bankberatung AG, which is based in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany. more »